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Perceiving the Countryside: Some Thoughts on the Representation of Agrarian Cycles and Tasks in the Mosaics of Roman Spain

  • Luz Neira
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The Archaeology of Peasantry in Roman Spain
This chapter is in the book The Archaeology of Peasantry in Roman Spain

Abstract

This paper aims to analyse the agricultural activities depicted on the mosaics of Roman Spain¹. It is surprising to discover that olive oil production, one of the most important economic activities for large sectors of Roman Spain, is absent from such representations. Only tasks related to viticulture are depicted on the Roman mosaics. In particular, some representations of the harvest and grape stomping include interesting details of such agricultural activities and the people who performed them. The context of this subject, mainly linked to mythological scenes representing Bacchic themes or depicting Venus and Orpheus, suggests that, beyond a simple display of the wealth of the domini who commissioned the mosaics, these images must be interpreted as ideological symbols related to the agricultural civilization underlying the concept of romanitas.

Abstract

This paper aims to analyse the agricultural activities depicted on the mosaics of Roman Spain¹. It is surprising to discover that olive oil production, one of the most important economic activities for large sectors of Roman Spain, is absent from such representations. Only tasks related to viticulture are depicted on the Roman mosaics. In particular, some representations of the harvest and grape stomping include interesting details of such agricultural activities and the people who performed them. The context of this subject, mainly linked to mythological scenes representing Bacchic themes or depicting Venus and Orpheus, suggests that, beyond a simple display of the wealth of the domini who commissioned the mosaics, these images must be interpreted as ideological symbols related to the agricultural civilization underlying the concept of romanitas.

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Acknowledgments V
  3. Contents VII
  4. Introduction 1
  5. Part I: From Traditional to New Approaches: Methodological Insights
  6. Early Imperial Roman Peasant Communities in Central Spain: Agrarian Structure, Standards of Living, and Inequality in the North of Roman Carpetania 23
  7. Perceiving the Countryside: Some Thoughts on the Representation of Agrarian Cycles and Tasks in the Mosaics of Roman Spain 49
  8. Investigating Livestock Practices in the Countryside of Roman Spain: An Archaeozoological Approach 71
  9. Part II: Beyond Villascapes: Peasants in Landscapes
  10. A Peasant Landscape in the Eastern Roman Spain. An Archaeological Approach to Territorial Organization and Economic Models 91
  11. Exploring the Complexity of Roman Agrarian Landscapes. State of the Art and a Study Case from the Southwestern Iberian Peninsula 111
  12. Roman Peasantry, Spatial Archaeology, and Off-site Survey in Hispania 143
  13. Part III: Comparing Villae and Peasants Habitats in Settlement Systems
  14. On the Margins of the Villa System? Rural Architecture and Socioeconomic Strategies in North-Eastern Roman Spain 169
  15. Villae and Farms: Early Imperial Rural Settlement in the Adaja-Eresma Basin (Central Roman Spain) 201
  16. With the measure you use you will be measured back… Late Roman and Early Medieval Peasants in Central Spain on Examination 229
  17. From Villa to Village? Relational Approaches within Roman and Medieval Iberian Rural Societies 253
  18. Conclusions 277
  19. List of Contributors 285
  20. List of Figures 291
  21. Index 295
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110757415-004

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Acknowledgments V
  3. Contents VII
  4. Introduction 1
  5. Part I: From Traditional to New Approaches: Methodological Insights
  6. Early Imperial Roman Peasant Communities in Central Spain: Agrarian Structure, Standards of Living, and Inequality in the North of Roman Carpetania 23
  7. Perceiving the Countryside: Some Thoughts on the Representation of Agrarian Cycles and Tasks in the Mosaics of Roman Spain 49
  8. Investigating Livestock Practices in the Countryside of Roman Spain: An Archaeozoological Approach 71
  9. Part II: Beyond Villascapes: Peasants in Landscapes
  10. A Peasant Landscape in the Eastern Roman Spain. An Archaeological Approach to Territorial Organization and Economic Models 91
  11. Exploring the Complexity of Roman Agrarian Landscapes. State of the Art and a Study Case from the Southwestern Iberian Peninsula 111
  12. Roman Peasantry, Spatial Archaeology, and Off-site Survey in Hispania 143
  13. Part III: Comparing Villae and Peasants Habitats in Settlement Systems
  14. On the Margins of the Villa System? Rural Architecture and Socioeconomic Strategies in North-Eastern Roman Spain 169
  15. Villae and Farms: Early Imperial Rural Settlement in the Adaja-Eresma Basin (Central Roman Spain) 201
  16. With the measure you use you will be measured back… Late Roman and Early Medieval Peasants in Central Spain on Examination 229
  17. From Villa to Village? Relational Approaches within Roman and Medieval Iberian Rural Societies 253
  18. Conclusions 277
  19. List of Contributors 285
  20. List of Figures 291
  21. Index 295
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